First mechanical heart on the NHS saved my life

n Derek Wright: He was given two hours to live when he was admitted to hospital after suffering a heart attack

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A man who was given just hours to live has spoken of his relief after a pioneering 'mechanical heart' saved his life.

Derek Wright, of College Road in Whalley Range, had been told by doctors that he had only a couple of hours to live when he first arrived at Wythenshawe Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.

However a life-saving operation, which hooked Mr Wright up to the first-ever NHS-funded 'mechanical heart' - also known as a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) - meant that doctors were able to keep the 55-year-old former builder alive until a suitable donor was found. Up until now all other VAD machines had been bought with money raised through charities.

Mr Wright said: "I really was at death's door, without the operation I would have died. My family say that I looked like a new man as soon I was plugged into the machine.

"I was hooked up to the VAD for seven days until a heart was found and they did the operation straight away. When I finally woke up and spoke to the doctors I was preparing myself for my next operation, but I found out then that they had already done the transplant. I had been completely out of it.

"I feel great now and have had no problems since.

"I'm extremely fortunate to have received this treatment and can only express my sincere thanks to all the doctors and nursing staff." Mr Wright, who lives with his partner Margaret Thompson and her two children, inherited heart problems from his father's side of the family.

Previously he had stents placed in his arteries to keep them open and had been told that they would last for 25 years. However, his condition worsened in the months leading up to his heart attack. Mr Wright suffered a heart attack on Sunday, June 24. He was admitted to the Manchester Royal Infirmary before he was rushed as an emergency case to Wythenshawe Hospital on Wednesday, July 4.

Mr Wright was then hooked up to the 'mechanical heart' before his life-saving operation, which took place overnight on Friday, July 13 until Saturday, July 14.

The operation took four-and-a-half hours.

Treatment for one day on the machines costs more than £3,000 and up to £60,000 if a patient is kept on it for a couple of weeks. The University of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust currently has six VAD machines.

The VAD allows doctors to keep patients alive until a donor is found as it takes the place of a heart by pumping up to seven litres of blood into the arteries.

Mr Wright is now recovering at home following the operation.

Nizar Yonan, director of the VAD programme, said: "Mr Wright is making an excellent recovery after undergoing two major operations. The VAD plays an absolutely critical role in bridging patients to transplant, and with the new government funding it can go forward to save many more lives."